KEVIN PIETERSEN will leave on the next flight the moment his wife goes into labour with their first child – even if it means walking off the pitch in the middle of an ICC World Twenty20 match.

The England number three has been unequivocal about his intention to be at the birth of his and his pop star wife’s first-born, ever since it became clear there was the likelihood of a clash between that event and the latter stages of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean.

It is understood the due date falls on the weekend of May 15 and 16, with the World Twenty20 final set for the second of those two days.

Pietersen, however, will not be rethinking his life choice – and has the backing of the England management to do what he thinks is right.

“As soon as she goes into labour, I’ll be off,” said the 29-year-old. “No matter where it is in the tournament, I’ll be off – and it’s been cleared with the management to do that.

“If I’m in the middle of a match, I’ll obviously get off the field and then I’ll be on the next plane that flies into London Heathrow.”

Pietersen has no truck either with those who have previously criticised modern players for making the same stand as him.

“I think it’s pretty sad that if you have your first child people criticise you for wanting to be there, whatever walk of life,” he added.

Whether he is available for the whole tournament or not, Pietersen is confident England have as good a chance as anyone else – in an unpredictable tournament – of reaching the final.

To do so, they will have to qualify from Group D in Guyana next week, come through the Super Eight stage initially in Barbados – where they have just won both their warm-up matches against Bangladesh and South Africa – and then prevail in a semi-final in St Lucia.

Pietersen, who made a first-ball duck against his native South Africa at Kensington Oval yesterday on his belated arrival after spending some time with his pregnant wife, is encouraged by what he has seen so far.

“It’s a great start by the boys. It’s important to win, because it becomes a habit,” he said.

“I think we’ve got a good chance. We’ve got some pretty good spin bowlers – Swanny’s (Graeme Swann) obviously world-class; (Michael) Yardy’s performed brilliantly in the two warm-up games, and I think I may have a trundle in Guyana on those wickets.

“If we field well, take all our catches and have some moments of brilliance, I don’t see any reason why we can’t go a long, long way.

“But anyone could win this tournament - it’s very unpredictable.”

Pietersen spent much of the past month at the Indian Premier League following England’s Test and one-day international tour of Bangladesh – and although he had to contend with security issues when bombs were planted outside the stadium in Bangalore, in a competition since blighted by controversy over alleged improper management, he insists he has had a golden experience.

“It was absolutely incredible. The cricket was amazing. What a great tournament!”

As for the bombs in Bangalore, Pietersen made it clear reports which suggested at the time he and others were cajoled into playing on against their judgement were simply false.

He has no qualms either about returning to the sub-continent for next year’s World Cup – as long as the expert advice is to do so.